Peace Corps
An introduction to the Malagasy language
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE MALAGASY LANGUAGE
Malagasy is the only language spoken in all of Madagascar, while there are eighteen dialects spoken in different regions, for instance Sakalava, Tsimihety, Betsimisaraka, Betsileo, Antandroy, Antanosy, Antesaka, Antemoro, Bara, and Standard Malagasy. It’s emphasized that the basic grammatical structure is the same for all dialects. They mostly differ in terms of vocabulary. As for the Malagasy alphabet, there are some vowels and consonants that do not exist such as
“u,c,q,x,w.” In fact the Malagasy language is close to Arabic in pronunciation. This short introduction is designed to give you a glimpse of what the Malagasy language is like before you arrive in Madagascar.
CONTENTS
The text accompanies the following fourteen (14) audio tracks:
MG_Malagasy_Introduction.mp3 (File Size: 1.63 MB) MG_Malagasy_Lesson_1.mp3 (File Size: 2.75 MB) MG_Malagasy_Lesson_2.mp3 (File Size: 961 KB) MG_Malagasy_Lesson_3.mp3 (File Size: 1.43 MB) MG_Malagasy_Lesson_4.mp3 (File Size: 1.72 MB) MG_Malagasy_Lesson_5.mp3 (File Size: 4.14 MB)
MG_Malagasy_Lesson_6.mp3 (File Size: 1.92 MB) MG_Malagasy_Lesson_7.mp3 (File Size: 2.18 MB) MG_Malagasy_Lesson_8.mp3 (File Size: 1.44 MB) MG_Malagasy_Lesson_9.mp3 (File Size: 3.06 MB) MG_Malagasy_Lesson_10.mp3 (File Size: 2.98 MB) MG_Malagasy_Lesson_11.mp3 (File Size: 964 KB) MG_Malagasy_Lesson_12.mp3 (File Size: 990 KB) MG_Malagasy_Lesson_13.mp3 (File Size: 1.17 MB) MG_Malagasy_Lesson_14.mp3 (File Size: 988 KB)
Lesson 1: MALAGASY ALPHABET
VOWELS
The Malagasy language has only 4 vowel sounds: a, e, i, and o, pronounced as follows:
A Sounds [æ] as in the English word: Father.
Examples: Salama (Hello), Manana (to have).
E sounds [ei] as in the English word; made, pay.
Examples: Veloma (Bye!), teny (language/words), enina (six).
I / Y (Ending) sounds [i:] as in the English word; Keep, leek.
Examples: Misy (there is), mipetraka (to live/to sit), tsia (no) O sounds, [u] as in the English word: Pool, Sue.
Examples: Aho (I), Voky (full) DIFFICULT SOUNDS
ao
vaovao (new)
tr
tratra (chest)
dr
drafitra (draft)
nj onja (wave) oa
soa (good)
ts tsotra (simple)
ndr Indrindra (especially)
z
Zaza (baby)
Lesson 2: GREETINGS
MALAGASY ENGLISH
Manahoana? Hello!
Salama! Hi!
Inona no vaovao? What’s up?
Tsy misy! Nothing special!
Fahasalamana? How are you?
Tsara fa misaotra! I’m OK. Thanks.
Tonga soa! Welcome!
Veloma! Bye!
Misaotra! Thanks!
Azafady! Please/sorry!
Miala tsiny! Please/sorry!
Tsy misy olana! No problem!
Lesson 3: INTRODUCTIONS
MALAGASY ENGLISH
Iza no anaranao? What is your name?
______ no anarako, ary
ianao? My name is _____, and yours?
Faly mahalala anao! Happy to meet you!
Faly mahalala anao koa! Happy to meet you too!
Avy aiza ianao? Where are you from?
Avy any Etazonia aho. I am from USA.
Avy any Boston aho. I am from Boston.
Inona ny asanao? What is your job? /What do you do?
Mpiofana aho. I am a trainee.
Mianatra teny Malagasy aho. I learn Malagasy.
Hipetraka aiza ianao? Where will you stay?
Mandrapihaona! See you later!
Veloma! Bye!
Lesson 4: FAMILY
MALAGASY ENGLISH
Fianakaviana Family
Dada Father
Neny Mother
Zoky Older siblings
Zandry Younger siblings
Dadabe Grand father
Nenibe Grand mother
Zanaka Children
Manam-bady To be married Zaza tokana Single child
Kambana Twins
Sipa Boy/girlfriend
Namana Friend
Nisaraka To be separated
Manana To have
Lesson 5: BASIC SENTENCE STRUCTURES PERSONAL PRONOUN SUBJECT
MALAGASY ENGLISH
Aho I
Ianao You
Izy He/She
Isika We (inclusive)
Izahay We (exclusive)
Ianareo You
Izireo They
• The verb "to be" doesn't exist in Malagasy. The
subject pronouns: "aho", "ianao", "izy", "isika", "izahay",
"ianareo", "izireo" can be translated as "I" or "I am",
"you" or "you are", "he" or "he is"…
AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCE STRUCTURE
First (verb)
Second (object)
Third
(subject) Put it together Mihinana eat vary rice aho I Mihinana vary aho I eat rice
Misotro drink rano water ianao You Misotro rano ianao You drink water
Tia like dite tea izy He Tia dite izy He likes tea
• A sentence consists of a predicate and a subject or a predicate, object and subject. A predicate can be a verb or an adjective.
• Because there is no verb “to be” in Malagasy, adjectives imply the use of “to be” indirectly.
Example:
Adjective Subject Put it together
Mangatsiaka
cold izy He/she Mangatsiaka izy She/he is cold
NEGATIVE SENTENCE STRUCTURE
Negation Add it on
Tsy mihinana vary aho I don’t eat rice
Tsy misotro rano ianao You don’t drink water Tsy tia koka izy He doesn’t like coke tsy Negative
Tsy faly izy She is not happy
CONJUGATION
Verb: Mihinana (to eat)
Mihinana (Present tense: eat) Hihinana (Future tense: will eat) Nihinana (Past tense: ate)
Lesson 6: BASIC NEEDS
MALAGASY ENGLISH
Reraka aho. I am tired.
Noana aho. I am hungry.
Voky aho. I am full.
Mangetaheta aho. I am thirsty.
Aiza ny kabone? Where is the toilet?
Te hisotro rano aho. I want to drink water.
Te hatory aho. I want to sleep.
Te hisakafo aho. I want to eat.
Te hivoaka aho. I want to go out.
Mafana aho. I am hot.
Mangatsika aho. I am cold.
Kabone Toilet
Ladosy Shower
Pô Pee pot (bed-pan)
Tsy tia hena aho. I don’t like meat.
Lesson 7: QUESTION WORDS
MALAGASY ENGLISH
Ve? Yes or no question
Iza? Who?
Aiza? Where?
Inona? What?
Firy? How many?
Amin’ny firy? What time?
Oviana? When?
Hoatrinona? How much?
Fa maninona? Why?
Ahoana? How?
• "Ve" and "angaha" are used to form a "yes" or "no"
question. They may be replaced by rising intonation.
• Oviana is only used in interrogative sentence. When in affirmative sentence, use rehefa.
EXPRESSIONS
MALAGASY ENGLISH
Amerikana ve ianao? Are you American?
Iza i TIM? Who is TIM?
Mipetraka aiza izy? Where does he/she live?
Manao inona ianareo? What are you doing?
Manana zoky firy ianao? How many older siblings do you have?
Amin’ny firy izao? What time is it?
Oviana ianao no tonga? When did you arrive?
Hoatrinona ny papier
hygienique? How much is a roll of toilet paper?
Fa maninona no mianatra
Malagasy ianareo? Why do you study Malagasy?
Ahoana ny weekend? How was the weekend?
Lesson 8: COMMANDS AND REQUESTS
MALAGASY ENGLISH
Eny Yes
Tsia No
Avia aty! Come here!
Andraso! Wait!
Ndao handeha! Let's go/come on!
Diso False / untrue
Marina True
Ampy izay! That is enough!
Azo? Understand?
Mila__(koka)__ aho
azafady. I need_(coke)_ please.
Omeo_(rano)_ aho azafady.Give me _(water)_ please.
Mba omeo_(Sokola)_ aho
azafady. Give me _(Chocolate)_ please.
Afaka mahazo_(vera)_ve
aho azafady? Can I have_(a glass)_ please?
Lesson 9: NUMBERS
NUMBERS MALAGASY ENGLISH
1 Iray One
2 Roa Two
3 Telo Three
4 Efatra Four
5 Dimy Five
6 Enina Six
7 Fito Seven
8 Valo Eight
9 Sivy Nine
10 Folo Ten
• Malagasy numbers are read from right to left.
• “amby” is used to connect numbers with one digit to two and three digits until 199. “Sy” is used after 199 and more.
10- Folo (Ten)
40- Efapolo (Fourty) 90-Sivifolo (Ninety) 100- Zato (Hundred)
300- Telonjato (Three hundred) 900- Sivinjato (Nine hundred) 1,000- Arivo (A thousand)
5,000- Dimy arivo (Five thousand) 7,000- Fito arivo (Seven thousand) 10,000 Iray alina (Ten thousand) 20,000 Roa alina (Twenty thousand) 60,000 Enina alina (Sixty thousand) 100,000 Iray hetsy (Hundred thousand)
400,000 Efatra hetsy (Four hundred thousand) 800,000 Valo hetsy (Eight hundred thousand)
Lesson 10: FOOD
MALAGASY ENGLISH
Sakafo Food
Vary Rice
Laoka Side-dishes
Mofo Bread
Hena Meat
Henakisoa Pork
Henomby Beef
Akoho Chicken
Trondro Fish
Atody Eggs
Episy Spices
Menaka Oil
Siramamy Sugar
Sira Salt
Sakay Chili
Poavra Pepper
Legume Vegetable
Anana Greens
Ovy Potatoes
Voatabia Tomato
Karoty Carrot
voanjobory Round beans
Tsaramaso Beans
Voankazo Fruit
Papay Papaya
Mananasy Pineapple
Manga Mango
Voasary Orange
Haninkotrana Snack
Mangahazo Cassava
Katsaka Corn
Vomanga Sweet potato
Zava-pisotro Drink
Rano Water
Ranon’ampango Rice-water
Limonady Lemonade
Jus Juice
Kôka Coca-cola
Dite Tea
Kafe Coffee
Ronono Milk
Lesson 11: DAYS OF THE WEEK AND PARTS OF THE DAY
DAYS OF THE WEEK
Alatsinainy Monday
Talata Tuesday
Alarobia Wednesday
Alakamisy Thursday
Zoma Friday
Sabotsy Saturday
Alahady Sunday
Omaly Yesterday
Androany Today
Rahampitso Tomorrow
PARTS OF THE DAY
Maraina Morning
Atoandro Noon
Tolakandro Afternoon
Hariva Evening
Alina Night
Lesson 12: FEELINGS VOCABULARY
Mahafaly ahy izany That makes me happy.
Mampalahelo izany That’s sad.
Mahagaga izany That’s surprising.
Mahasosotra izany That’s shocking!
Mandreraka izany It's tiring.
Mampatahotra izany That’s frightening!
Mahakamo izany That's annoying!
Mampiahiahy izany That’s doubtful.
Mampihomehy izany Amusing! Hilarious!
SENTENCES (no recording)
Faly izy. He/She is happy.
Gaga ianao. You are surprised.
Malahelo aho. I am sad.
Sosotra izahay. We are shocked.
Matahotra izireo. They are afraid.
Kamo izy. He/she is lazy.
Halako I hate it.
Matoky anao aho I trust you.
Lesson 13: COLORS
MALAGASY ENGLISH
Loko Colors
Miloko To be colored
Manga Blue
Mangamanga Bluish
Manga antitra Dark blue Manga tanora Light blue
Mena Red
Fotsy White
Mainty Black
Maintso Green
Mavokely Pink
Mavo Yellow
Volom-boasary Orange
Volon-tsokolà Brown
Volon-davenona Grey
Lesson 14: FURNITURE IN THE HOUSE
MALAGASY ENGLISH
Seza Chair
Latabatra Table
Farafara Bed frame
Kidoro Mattress
Ondana Pillow
Bodofotsy Blankets
Servieta Towel
Jiro Light
Varavarana Door
Varavarankely Window
Lay Mosquito net
Zinga Plastic mug
Sio Bucket
